Vacuum cleaner bag



A. J- WEINSTEIN 3,176,450

2 Sheets-Sheet l VACUUM CLEANER BAG April 6, 1965 Filed May 25, 1962 INVENTOR. ADOLPH J.WEINSTE|N.

ATTORNEYS.

April 6, 1965 A. .1. WEINSTEIN VACUUM cLEANEfi BAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1962 ZNVENTOR. ADOL'PH J. WEINSTEIN.

ATTOR N 5Y5.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,176,456 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,176,450 VACUUM CLEANER BAG Adolph J. Weinstein, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to A. .l. Weinstein Company, Carnegie, Pa, a company of Pennsylvania Filed May 25, 1962, Ser. No. 197,786 1 Claim. (Cl. 55-367) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner bag and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner bag of the disposable paper type.

It has been the widespread practice in recent years to employ paper bags with vacuum sweepers for screening and capturing dust and airborne substances from air streams created by suction motors of the vacuum cleaners. The dust bags are conventionally composed of paper which is pervious to air but impervious to dust particles and the like, and the bag generally is designed with an apertured closure whichis connected to the air inlet tube of the cleaner within the conventional housing provided therefor. In each instance it is important that the bag closure connection with the inlet tube be substantially a sealing connection in order that the dirt captured in the bag be maintained wholly within the bag, and that the air stream be confined in a path through the cleaner inlet tube and the pervious bag to obtain maximum efficiency of the vacuum cleaner action.

The connection of the paper dust bag to the vacuum machine must be made such that a firm engagement of the closure is effected with the air inlet tube of the machine also for the reason that the bag is usually supported to the machine solely by this connection.

' Being confronted with the aforementioned problems, attempts have been made to achieve a suitable bag structure with a closure which would join the inlet tube of a vacuum cleaner such that a frictionally tight and sealed connection would be accomplished. Inasmuch as the disposable bag structures of the general nature of the present invention are replaced periodically as is intended, the connection is one which must be simple in construction for operating purposes, yet positive in engagement to acquire the desired sealing result. It therefore has been found, as disclosed in the prior art, that the solution of the former problem for operational ease led to complication and frustration of the latter sealing problem. Al-

though many disposable dust bags are available on the open market, it is evident that the majority are complicated and expensive from a constructional standpoint to effect the stated aims, or are simple in construction and inefficient in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and. improved vacuum cleaner bag.

Another object is the provision of a disposable dust bag which is of a compact construction for purpose of storage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dust bag which is easily installed on and removed from vacuum cleaners by-a bag closure of unique construction.

A further object is the provision of a dust bag having a closure member which associates intimately with an inlet tube of a vacuum cleaner to form an effective seal. 'Another object is to provide a disposable dust bag for vacuum cleaners which is composed of expendable, inexpensive materials and having a closure with a selfclosing opening for connection of the bag to a vacuum cleaner air inlet tube.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the bag showing folds in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the bag taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bag showing its triangular configuration;

FIG. 4 shows a top wall of the bag with lines of cut and perforation for forming an opening for vacuum cleaner tube insertion into the bag;

FIG. 5 illustrates in fragmentary and cutaway'side view the mode of penetration of an inlet tube of a vacuum cleaner through the top wall of the bag with the tabs delineated by the cut lines of FIG. 4 bent inwardly along the circular perforation; and

FIG. 6 represents the end view of the bag in cutaway view illustrating the penetration of a vacuum cleaner tube into the bag.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 which i1- lustrates a preferred embodiment, a vacuum cleaner sack or dust bag 11 composed of material such as paper which is pervious to air but of a mesh or matting of a density to filter dust and dirt particles from the air stream caused to How through the bag material by the action of the vacuum or suction motor of the cleaner. As illustrated best in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bag 11 has a fold line 12 extending on each end from its bottom 13 longitudinally to an apex 14 near the top 15 of the bag. The ends 16 are delineated from the sides 17 of the bag 11 by fold lines 18 which extend from the top 15 of the bag toward the bottom 13 at which they meet. The fold lines 18 at the respective ends 16, and the fold lines 12 are joined by fold lines 19, forming a triangular surface area 21 near the top and at each end of the bag 11. The base 22 of the triangular surface area 21. is fixed to the top 15 by suitable means such as adhesives, or by stitching as indicated generally by numeral 23, FIG. 3.

The bottom 13 of the bag 11 is fashioned by overlapping the sides 17 to form a seam 24. The overlap 25 is depicted best in FIG. 3, wherein the material of the bag 11 at its bottom 13 is folded on itself with one side 17 being of a single thickness to extend past the overlap 25 toward the top 15. The one side is superposed over the folded other side and is sealingly engaged to the other side by means such as glue or the like.

The bag, before being folded and closed at its bottom 13, is of a hollow rectangular configuration with a longitudinal side overlap or seam 26. The open end of the hollow rectangular configuration is closed by a planar member or closure 27 which closes the top 15 of the bag 11. The stitching 23 is carried continuously around the flanged or flattened portion 28 of the bag to sealingly attach the bag to the top closure 27.

The closure 27 is of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or the like which has the characteristic of resiliency, that is, a tendency to return to its planar configuration when bent. As shown in FIG. 3 and 4 the closure 27 is rectangular in configuration with its corners rounded. The bag 11 is attached to the marginal portion 29 of the closure, and for storage in stacked relation, the closure is swingable about a construction line joining the apices 14 when the bag 11 is folded along lines 12 and 18 at each end of the bag and fiinally into a flat condition.

On the outside surface of the closure 27 a circular perforation 31 is made, and, as depicted by FIGS. 2 and 4, the perforation extends only partially through the thickness of the closure. The circumference of the circle of perforation is of a size which is related to the outside diameter of a vacuum cleaner suction inlet tube such that the tube Wall will be forced against the circular perforation when entry is made into the bag 11.

The circular area 32 in the closure 27 is slit completely through the material of the closure lengthwise or diametrically as indicated by numeral 33, FIGS. 2 and 4. Parallel slits or chords 34 intercept thediametrical slit 33 at right angles and divide the slit 33 into three equal lengths, with the middlelength of the three being uninterrupted. The lengths of the diametrical' slit'33 on each side of the uninterrupted central-length are each divided in halfI-at' a point 35 to which join tworadi-al cuts 36 which are equal'in length and which extend to the'circumference of the circular perforation 31 at points '36. Each point 36 lays on an arc 37 between the diametrical slit 33 and the chord slits 34, with the.

arc distance to the chord slits -34 being greater than arc distance to the diametricalslit 33.

The circular perforation 31and slits 33, 34, and 36 cut through the circular portion 32 fashionedin the manner hereinabove ex lained thus provide a port 38 1 made up of 'leaf members such as rectangulartabs 3Q, irregular flaps 41, and'triangular ears 42, all of which are hinged on the circular perforation 31. As previously described, the "perforation 31 extends only partially through the thickness of the material of the closure 27,

and when the tabs 39, flaps 41 and ears42 are hinged two halves above referred to into five with a large central flap. having parallel sides and .a straight-edge along the diametrically-extending slit, a flap at each side of the central flap having one straight side and one diagonal side and a straight edge defined by the diametrically-extending slit, and two. endfiaps which have only "two freeedges or sides, one of which is formed by the 'theinvention is merely illustrative and that numerous V .odifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. "Further, it will be understood that the particular bag configuration illustrated is only an example inwardl the tendency of the material. of the closure 27.

is to return the hinged members to a planar-condition. The perforation "31 relieves the'stress on the outer or external surface of .the closure 27'whichwould normally resist the returnof the members formed by the: slits to their original fiat condition, whereas the inner uninten rupted surface of the closure area 32 tends to pull the' members back into the position shown in FIGS..2 and 4.

of one type of configuration which may be" employed in the 'practice'of the inventiomand that the invention is not limited to usewith this one typeof bag configuration.

What is claimed is: A disposable vacuum'cleaner. dust bag comprising a flexible bagelement pervious to. the passage of air therethrough, the bag element having an'openend, a closure panel of cardboard to the marginal portion of which the open end of the bag element is attached, the central area of saidpanel having a circular perforation therein on ;the surfaceopposed to the surface which is next to the It is by this action that the dust bag comprising the I instant invention is made self-closing.

The penetration of aivacuurn cleaner tube. 43 through Q the port 38 is illustratedin FIGS. 5 and 6 whereinthere is shown the tabs 39, flaps 41','and cars 42 forced {inwardlyinto the bag 11, with the members bent, along the circular perforation 31' in the top closure 27 of the bag. The tube 43'is frictionallyheld within the port 38 by engagement of the .tube'outer wall thereof with the bent edge of the port 38 at the perforation 31. and with r the facesof the bent tabs 39, fiapsdl, and cars 42 adjabag andin which the perforations extendcnly partially through the cardboard and which circularperforation defines a suction tube receiving opening, the area of the cardboard bounded by the perforation having a single slit therein extending across the full diameterof the circle and having two parallelslits transverseto the first, one I ateach side of the center of thecircle extending in the.

jpositioniof equal, chonds of thecircleand terminating at the circle, .there also being insaid=area two divergent cent'the tube 43. The arrangementand configuration 1 of the cut members 39, .41, and 42 arefsuch that the'tube, I

43 is surrounded bya ringof these members which effec-' tively' seals the tube within theport- 38 wherebythe air stream through the tube by thevacuum cleaner motorv is forced through thepervious paper material of the bag 11 and does not escapethrough the connection of thetube to the closure 27'.

It will be seen by reference to FIG. 4 that the slit 33 extending across the diameter of the perforated. circle" divides the area within the circle into two halves and the' slits. extending outwardly from the diametrically-extending slit "to the perforated circle about midway between eachof'said parallel slits and the terminal of the, diametricallyextendihg slitwherebythe area of the circle'is divided on each side'of the diametrically-extending slit into five areas which on one side of the diametrical'slit are mirror images of those on theother and each area has but onejboun'dary attached to the body. of the panel at the perforated circle, all other boundaries of said areas subdivision or areas or tabs on one side of this diametv rically-extending slit are themirrorimage of those on the other. There are five such areas .or tabs in each half,

each of which Willpresent an edge capable ofpro'viding I a line contact with thetube when it is entered through 1 the port, ,so that when the tube is withdrawn there is better assurance of frictional contact tomove the several flaps back to closed position. By reason of the perforated circle forming the outer boundaryof the flaps, which perforations extendonly part-way through .the card board panel, the different 'flaps vorareas will hinge at i the circle without breaking the cardboard andthere will remain some resilience at the crease line to also urge the. flaps toclosed position as the cleaner hose fitting'is with drawn. As also best seen in FIG, 4, the slits dividethe being defined by slits with the'diametricallyextending slitf common to all such areas, the five areas comprising a central area with parallel edges and .an inner edge perpendicular to said parallel edges, a smaller area. at each side of the central area having one, edge parallel with. and adjacentthelarger centralfarea and one diagonal edge and a perpendicular ,edgedefined by the diametrically-extending slit and two smallerbut oppositely facing still smallerare'as having only two detached edges, one of which is provided by thediametrically-extending slit; i l

References Cited the lilxaminer r UNITEDISTATES PATENTS 2,528,332 10/50 Bergquist 55,-267X 2,574,683 11/51 "Anderson 55-377): 2,975,862

HARRY B. Tnon ToNJ rimar Examiner.

' 7 3/6 1 nGoldberg 55+377 X 

